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Don’t worry … someone will want Rodgers in 2025

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Joe Douglas is gone. Robert Saleh already was fired. Aaron Rodgers could be next to leave the New York Jets. Douglas lost his job as the general manager on Tuesday, six weeks after the head coach was replaced following a 2-3 start. The Jets have gone 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich so owner Woody Johnson sent Douglas packing. Rodgers has played more like a 40-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles tendon injury than a four-time NFL MVP. He’s expressed a desire to play another season. The big question is whether the Jets will want him ...

Mailbag

Franklin’s formula not working in big games Ahead of this year’s clash with Ohio State, I was optimistic, telling friends this would be the year Penn State finally beats the Buckeyes. I was wrong. One thing is clear: Penn State can’t win big games under James Franklin. Ohio State entered the game as a 3.5-point favorite. Penn State got off to a strong start with a long opening drive for a field goal and a Pick-6 on Ohio State’s first possession and led 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Nittany Lions managed only a single field goal in the final three ...

Quick turnarounds possible with the right kind of coach

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press Teams considering a coaching change should be encouraged by some of the quick turnarounds around the NFL. Three teams with new coaches entered Week 11 holding a playoff position. Dan Quinn’s Washington Commanders (7-4) led that group in victories despite a 26-18 loss to Philadelphia on Thursday night. Raheem Morris and the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) are first in the NFC South. Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) currently have the second wild-card spot in the AFC. Quinn, Morris and Harbaugh have another thing in common. They ...

Franklin should seek out a guest playcaller

What a poor showing from our coaching staff last Saturday. These kids deserve a much better job from the entire coaching staff. Playcalling — or lack thereof — needs to improve. Are we saving the best calls for the Maryland game? Who decided the three runs up the middle near the end of the game? In critical situations starting now, how about if Franklin selects a guest playcaller from the stands! I’m sure they could do better than our staff. Maybe Franklin should spend more time focusing on expanding the State College runway and let someone else run the team. ...

Braving mental health conversations

In professional sports, athletes are celebrated for their physical strength, grit and determination. But as the world of sports evolves, so does our understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. Athletes like Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Kevin Love have bravely stepped forward to remind us that mental health is as important as physical fitness. Their openness has sparked a much-needed conversation by challenging beliefs about mental toughness and resilience in sports. The question isn’t whether mental health matters but how the sports world will respond ...

Pirates’ numbers paint sad picture

By John Frederick For the Mirror I am a reformed baseball fan and statistifile. My affliction began with the Pirates’ near miss in 1966 and continued unabated beyond the Pittsburgh’s’ 1979 World Championship. Half a century later, my mind remains cluttered with Pirate batting and earned run averages, trades gone awry and ones that helped win championships. I fondly recall evenings on my grandfather’s front porch listening to Bob Prince and Nellie King and the once a year pilgrimage to Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium. Who could forget Clemente legging out a triple ...